With two Game 7’s left to play, we are that much closer to finalizing
the second round matchups. Here are the scenarios:

Western
Conference:

1) San Jose Sharks vs. 4) Phoenix
Coyotes OR 5) Detroit Red Wings

Obviously, this matchup is
dependent on tonight’s game. It’s tough to say which team would be the
better matchup for the San Jose Sharks, although you have to think that
the Sharks would see the younger and inexperienced Coyotes as a better
chance to make it out of the second round. Either way, neither the
Coyotes or Red Wings will be a pushover for the Sharks. I’ll start
researching Joe Thornton’s statistics versus each team shortly, although
I’ll just have to throw his regular-season numbers out the window.

2)
Chicago Blackhawks vs. 3) Vancouver Canucks

This is a
dream scenario for those of us that love fast paced, exciting hockey.
While the Chicago Blackhawks didn’t exactly look impenetrable against
the Predators, a big series against the firepower of the Sedins and (um)
Mikael Samuelsson could be exactly what they’ll need to prove they’re
prepared for what’s supposed to be a Stanley Cup run.

Eastern
Conference (these are possible matchups based on either a Caps or
Habs win in Game 7)

A Habs win in Game 7 would make the Penguins the the highest
seeded team left in the conference (who saw that coming?), and make for
an absolute ratings bananza between two of the biggest fanbases in the
NHL. Although we wouldn’t get to see another Sidney Crosby and Alex
Ovechkin rematch in the conference finals (sniff), it gives the Penguins
a supposedly much easier road back to the Stanley Cup. While Jaroslav
Halak was been great, I’m guessing the Penguins are watching these last
few games on television thinking “gee, we really do NOT want to play
against Tuukka Rask in the second round.”

1) Washington
Capitals vs. 7) Philadelphia Flyers (Caps win)

If the
Washington Capitals win in Game 7, then the Philadelphia Flyers’
Cinderella season is in serious jeopardy. While taking out the New
Jersey Devils in the first round was one heck of a feat, taking on
Ovechkin and the Capitals is a different animal altogether. After facing
the absolute terror of Jaroslav Halak in the first round, Brian Boucher
will be a much more welcome change of pace even if Boucher did outduel
Martin Brodeur.

6) Boston Bruins vs. 7) Philadelphia Flyers
(Habs win)

It’s amazing that the two teams that barely
backed into the playoffs (although the Bruins certainly turned it on at
the end) could be facing off in the second round. The Bruins and Flyers
took out the Sabres and the Devils, two of the most consistent and
successful teams this season, in a clear sign of just how unpredictable
the NHL playoffs are.

The New York Islanders made a splash on Friday, signing veteran forward Cal Clutterbuck to a five-year, $17.5 million extension — one that carries a $3.5 million average annual cap hit through 2023.

Clutterbuck, 29, has two goals and nine points through 25 games this year, while averaging 15:26 TOI per night (his highest average since joining the Isles four years ago). As per usual, he leads the club in hits — one of the staples of his game — and serves as one of the club’s alternate captains.

This new contract represents a nice raise for the former Minnesota Wild man. His last contract, set to expire in July, was of the four-year, $11 million variety, and carried a $2.75 million cap hit.

This contract also resembles the one GM Garth Snow gave another of the club’s role forwards. This summer, Casey Cizikas signed a five-year, $16.75 million extension — one with a $3.35 million hit — despite the fact he’d never scored more than 30 points in a season, or averaged more than 14 minutes of ice time.

This style of spending — along with splashes made for free agent disappointments Jason Chimera and Andrew Ladd — is sure to raise some questions. The Isles opted not to spend that money on retaining two of their key players from a season ago, Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo, and the club has struggled to find its form through the first quarter of this year.

“We’re not going to give out any numbers now,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said yesterday, per Yahoo Sports. “The cap could range from where it is now to a couple or so million up, but we’re all going to have to focus on what makes the most sense moving forward.”

The salary cap only went up slightly for the current season, from $71.4 million to $73 million. The only slight increase was due to the lower Canadian dollar, which negatively impacted last season’s league revenues by “$100 or 200 million,” Bettman said earlier this year.

The loonie has been holding relatively steady for around half a year. It’s currently worth $0.76 USD and has been helped by the recent oil rally.

A flat salary cap would be bad news for big spenders like the Chicago Blackhawks, who still need to get Artemi Panarin signed to an extension. The Los Angeles Kings could also be forced to make some tough decisions, as they’ve got Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson in need of new deals. Ditto for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have key RFAs in Brian Dumoulin, Justin Schultz, and Conor Sheary.

Henrik Lundqvist has set such a high bar that his 12-8-1 record with a .912 save percentage is cause for great concern these days in New York.

That his backup, Antti Raanta, is 6-1-0 with a .932 save percentage only contributes to that concern, because if Raanta can manage those numbers, what’s Lundqvist’s excuse?

“I feel like I’m tracking the puck well, moving well,” Lundqvist told the Daily News. “It just comes down to some bad decisions at times that cost me.”

Indeed, December has not started well for The King. He’s allowed 10 goals in three starts for a save percentage of .894. In Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to the Islanders, his decision to poke check a loose puck led to the winning goal by Andrew Ladd.